(C) HUMANITARIAN PLANNING ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000104

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, IO/UNP, PRM/ANE
GENEVA FOR STONECIPHER
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH
PARIS FOR OFRIEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2013
TAGS: PREF MOPS MARR PHUM PREL EAID IZ KU ICRC
SUBJECT: (C) HUMANITARIAN PLANNING ON IRAQ

REF: A. 02 STATE 264634

B. 02 KUWAIT 5137

C. 02 KUWAIT 5133

D. 02 KUWAIT 5063

E. 02 KUWAIT 4961

F. 02 KUWAIT 4899

G. 02 KUWAIT 4379

H. (REFS B-G NODIS SPARROW

Classified By: (U) AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES; REASON 1.5 (D)


1. (C) INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY: This message summarizes
the current state of planning in Kuwait for humanitarian
aspects of Iraq contingency. Most of this information has
been reported previously in greater detail. Coordination is
ongoing among the Embassy, US military, GOK, Kuwait Red
Crescent (KRCS),ICRC, and UNHCR. The GOK is adamant that
no Iraqi Displaced Civilians (DCs) will be allowed to cross
the border, but it intends to provide and facilitate
assistance inside Iraq. The GOK is keen to participate in
the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC); it is exploring
alternatives after its initial offer to have KRCS host and
direct the HOC ran afoul of the Red Cross/Red Crescent
movement's principle of neutrality. Elements of a large DART
team will begin arriving in Kuwait around January 15. END
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.


2. (C) The Embassy and the Civil Affairs branch (C-9) of
Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) have
participated in extensive coordination meetings with the GOK,
generally chaired by MFA with the participation of Ministry
of Defense and Ministry of Interior as well as KRCS. The USG
inter-agency Humanitarian Planning Team (HPT) visited here in
December. Elements of a large DART team will begin arriving
in Kuwait around January 15; their focus will be more on
reconstruction than immediate humanitarian assistance.


3. (C) The GOK is adamantly opposed to allowing Iraqi DCs to
enter Kuwait, but it is willing to provide assistance to them
on the Iraqi side of the border, and to facilitate efforts of
IOs and NGOs to provide similar assistance. It does not want
to play any role in providing security for DCs, for fear that
emotions between Kuwaitis and Iraqis still run high and could
lead to violent incidents. (NOTE: The constitution
prohibits Kuwaiti military forces from crossing the border,
and it would be a violation of the Demilitarized Zone for
Kuwaiti military to approach within 5 kms. of the Iraqi
border. UNIKOM, the UN mission that monitors the DMZ, would
probably not be there to record any such violation, however,
as its plan calls for it to withdraw completely in the event
of conflict. END NOTE.) The GOK considers it politically
acceptable for KRCS personnel to cross the border (either
under ICRC auspices or in their own right) without exposing
Kuwait to charges of occupying Iraqi territory, because such
movement would be under cover of "friendly forces."


4. (C) The GOK is keen to participate actively in the
Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) which CFLCC intends to
establish in Kuwait. The GOK initially offered to have KRCS
host and direct the HOC, but deferred to ICRC protests that
this would violate the principle of neutrality on which the
Red Cross/Red Crescent movement depends in order to be able
to operate on both sides during a conflict. At this writing,
the GOK is exploring alternatives by which it can play an
active role in the HOC.


5. ICRC is within "a few days" of having the logistical
capacity and materiel sufficient to provide aid to up to
27,000 DCs in an initial phase (out of a total of 100,000
throughout Iraq),but it does not yet have the additional
personnel who would be needed. ICRC says two major
logistical centers are being built up in Iran, whose Red
Crescent Society has "impressive capabilities."


6. (C) UNHCR has made it clear that it is willing to assist
any DCs stranded near the border and unable to cross it (i.e.
not yet technically refugees, and therefore technically not
under UNHCR's mandate). The regional director in Riyadh is
handling Iraq contingency planning. The small office in
Kuwait is being reinforced with an Emergency Coordinator
(already here) and additional staff. Logistics bases are in
Aqaba, Jordan and Iskenderun, Turkey.


7. (C) IOM and Mercy Corps are visiting Kuwait now, and IOM
has already announced its intention to open an office here.
We anticipate that other IOs and NGOs may decide to use
Kuwait as a base of operations for Iraq, once the HOC is
established.


8. (C) COMMENT: The state of coordination regarding
humanitarian contingency planning is quite advanced compared
to the run-up to Desert Storm. The Embassy will continue to
press to maintain and accelerate this coordination in the
weeks ahead.
JONES